Apparatus for electrodeposition



H. L. BRIDGMAN. APPARATUS FOR ELEGTRODEPOSITION.

Patented Nov. 6, 1894.

(No Model.)

UNrTED STATES Y ATENT einen..l

HENRY L. BRIDGMAN, OF BLUE ISLAND, ILLINOIS.

APPARATUS FOR ELECTRODEPOSITION.

. l SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 528,587, datedNovember 6, 1894.

Application filed October 3, 18 93.

To all whom t may concern.:

Be it known that I, HENRY L. BR1DGMAN,a citizen of the United States,residing at Blue Island, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois,have invented a new and useful Improvement in ElectrodepositingApparatus, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide an electro-depositing apparatuswhich shall operate to produce complete metal (particularly copper)articles of manufacture, such as trolley-wheels, gear-pinions, journalbearings, and the like, by the electro-deposition of the metal inside amold forming the cathode of the apparatus 5 and my invention consists inthe general as well as .the more specific construction of the cathodeofthe apparatus.

Referring to the accompanying drawings- Figure lis a view in sectionalelevation of an electro-depositing apparatus provided with myimprovement. Fig. 2 is a section taken at the line 2 on Fig. l andviewed in the direction of the arrow.

A is the vat to contain the eleetrolytic fluid, and B is a metal shaft,preferably rotatable and to that end journaled in the vat and connectedwith one pole of a generator C. The, anodes D are hung from the upperedges of the vat to extend into the same; and they bear on a conductingstrip r on one of the edges of the vat, the strip being connected withthe opposite pole of the generator.

E is the cathode, composed, preferably, of copper, properly insulatedand forming a hollow mold in which the electrodeposition of metal takesplace to form the complete article of manufacture according to theconfiguration of the mold.

For producing with the apparatus the articles hereinbefore enumerated,the cathodemold E is made in separable and relatively.y adjustablesections, that illustrated being adapted to form a trolley-Wheel andcomprising the two half-Wheels q and q', affording a center, secured onthe shaft to rotate with it and in relative positions to form,.betweenthem, about the shaft, a mold for the trolley- Wheel to be produced. Theouter surfaces of the parts q and q are covered with insulation fm,which also covers the parts of the shaft exposed to the electrolyticfluid. The groove Serial No. 487,115. (No model.)

about the periphery of the wheel is produced by. a sectional annulus p,preferably of insulating (though it may be of insulated) material, thetwo sections of which are provided at their ends 'with flanges o atwhich to bolt them together; and the inner ,side of the annulus issubstantiallyin the form, in crosssection, of a V-shaped circumferentialhead n, the apex of which is rounded, and which is supported on theshaft to rotate with it and surround the parts q, q', and be concentricwith and extend within the plane of the circumferential recess formedbetween them.

It is preferred to provide the cathode on a rotary shaft in the vat,owing to the desirable stirring of the liquid produced by the rotationof the cathode; but unless the center rotates the annulus need not. Theinner metallic molding surfaces of the cathode are coated with graphite,or the like, material to prevent undue adhesion of the deposited metal.A

The electrolytic action of the apparatus deposits the metal in thecavity afforded by the cathode-mold E and gradually builds up thereinthe article to be produced; and the peripheral formation of theresultant article is that of a groove, occasioned by the annulus Thecompleted article of manufacture (trolley-wheel) may readily be removedfrom the apparatus, thereby also to prepare it for the manufacture ofanother, by separating the sections of the cathode-mold and removingthem from the shaft, which, as will be seen,'forms the core forproducing the central opening in the trolley-Wheel.

Of course, the construction of the moldv will be in accordance With theparticular article to be produced by electro-deposition.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In an electro-depositing apparatus, an insulated shaft supported inthe electrolytic cell, and a cathode formed in sections separablysupported on the shaft in relative positions to afford an interveningspace forming the mold to receive the deposit of metal, substantially asand for the purpose set forth.

2. In an electro depositing apparatus, a cathodecomprisin g a hollowmold formed with a center and an adjustable and removable IOO psupported to encircle the center and formed with insulating material andhaving the in- 1o ternal head n, substantially as and for the purposeset forth.

, HENRY L. BRIDGMAN.

In presence of- M. J. FROST, W. N. WILLIAMS.

